35

“I know.” I was so fucking tired. “But you’re pushing me away.”

Elias closed the distance between us again, and this time he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me flush to his body. Despite my frustration and exhaustion, I sighed in relief, leaning against that familiar warmth. The worst part of this week was that I’d missed him.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured, and then leaned in to softly capture my lips.

I wound my arms around his neck instinctively. The kiss felt good—it settled my nerves just a little. His touch still had that power.

“Don’t lock me out,” I whispered against his lips. “I want to do this with you.”

“I know,” he said. “I’m just—I’m worried about what this will mean for the kingdom. I just need to make sure tonight goes well. Please don’t worry.”

Somehow that only made me worry more.

“What would ‘going well’ look like?” I asked, with my arms still around his neck. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve taken care of everything,” he said. “It’s under control.”

I sighed and pulled away. He wasn’t going to tell me anything. As much as I longed to be close to him, I wasn’t going to let myself do that, not now, not when I was just another pawn on the royal chessboard.

Even when I asked him directly to tell me what was going on, still he kept silent. That was almost worse than the distance.

“All right,” I said. “If that’s what you want.”

He sighed and looked away.

I stepped into the ensuite to brush out my hair before the ball—and to get some space from Elias. In the mirror, I squared my shoulders and set my jaw.

I was the Queen of Frasia. Elias said he chose me not to be a trophy, but to be a leader. I wasn’t going to let him treat me like a trophy when I was supposed to be a leader. And I wasn’t going to let Elias’ devotion to me draw our nations into war.

Whatever tonight brought, there would not be war in Frasia. Not while I was queen.

I stepped back into our quarters. “Shall we get this over with?”

Whatever he saw in my face made his expression harden with determination. “I suppose we shall.”

Arm in arm, we made our way back out of the guest wing and toward the throne room.

As we approached the fine door to the room, two guards bowed to us, and then pushed the doors open with a dramatic sweep of their hands. Elias barely suppressed an eye roll.

“Your Highness,” the guard called, “may I present the King and Queen of Frasia.”

We’d had a few dinners with the royal court at this point, and I was beginning to feel irritated by the incessant announcements, the pomp and circumstance. At that point, I had to suppress an eye roll myself. We strode into the throne room, which had been set up for a massive feast for the royal family, court members, and some of the city residents as well. The immense skylights overhead were thrown open to let in the cool evening air, and the floor space was crowded with dragons all dressed in Shiangan finery.

And what finery it was. The women were dressed not in gowns but what looked like slips of golden and silver fabric, each of them wound delicately around their waists and hips. Legs, shoulders, and waists were all exposed—so much skin surrounded me that I felt my face begin to heat. It was so unlike the balls I was used to in Frasia, especially in Daybreak, where everyone was buttoned up and barely touching when they danced. Here the dragons seemed to be one drink away from turning the dinner and ball into an orgy, with the way hands were finding hips and shoulders and thighs.

I stood out like a sore thumb in my organza gown. But the looks I received from the guests as we moved through the crowd were not judgmental—they were almost desiring, from men and women alike. Elias wrapped his arm around my waist and tugged me closer, a barely audible possessive growl rumbling out of him like instinct. My wolf led me to lean closer, pleased by the minor display of possession and protection.

We made our way onto the low dais, where a long table was set up for the king, his attendants and generals, and the Nightfall Court members. The Shiangan generals were already seated at one end, and Kodan, Adora, and Fina were at the other. Fina was watching the crowd with unfettered delight, and Adora was a little more focused on her wine, ears red and eyes downcast. To her left, Kodan, dressed in a fine white silk shirt with leather bracers, was lounging in a chair, with her arm propped on the back of Adora’s chair. She threw a wink at Elias as we ascended onto the dais.

Standing at the center of things was King Draunar. He was dressed in fine gold cloth again, but this time it was only a pair of high-waisted slacks. He had on so much golden jewelry it almost looked like a shirt itself, pendants and gems and chains hanging over his muscular chest so densely it looked like chainmail.

“Good evening,” he said with a wide grin. He spoke loudly to be heard over the jaunty music and the rumble of conversation. “Please, sit. Have some wine. Dinner will be out shortly.”

It was clear from the way the table had been set that King Draunar wanted me at his side, with Elias next to Draunar’s generals. Elias scowled at the setup. It only took a glance at Kodan for her to sigh with understanding. She leaned closer and whispered something in Adora’s ear, then stood up, glass of wine in hand, and ambled over to the Shiangan general.